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When I started writing novels four years ago, I never dreamed it would have such a meaningful impact on my life. I searched for ways to use my personal story to help others and realized that writing fiction might be just the right medium.
My emphasis is on deep character development within storylines that expose the hidden devastation of domestic abuse and sexual violence. I use fictional characters to offer information and encouragement to those suffering in silence.
In my novels, strong female characters are challenged by their psychological struggles with PTSD, eating disorders, depression and anxiety. Throughout the series, I introduce unconventional therapy practices including equine therapy and canine-assisted therapy, which are used in conjunction with traditional methods. My hope is that my readers will relate to these characters and learn about the benefits of asking for help.
In addition to writing, I run a small non-profit service dog organization which I founded in 2013. Our dogs are partnered with therapists who work with clients experiencing the effects of trauma. Each of our dogs has their own client caseloads that they see every week.
If you are dealing with past trauma, know someone who is, or just want to learn more, I hope you'll consider reading and sharing my books. The best way to help someone is to reach out to them. That's my goal, and that's why I'm a writer.
Reviewed by Edith Wairimu for Readers' Favorite
In Memories in the Smoke: Book Two of the Mallox Series by Lisa Burkett, a tragic loss triggers a young psychologist’s childhood trauma. Keely Morgan is a psychologist working with Mallox Consulting, a one-of-a-kind organization that provides women who are in abusive relationships with psychological and security services. After one year working with the organization, Keely feels at home amongst her colleagues. As she is trying to recover from the physical and psychological violence she faced in their last case, she experiences a personal tragic loss that awakens her deep-rooted trauma from events in her childhood. While trying to heal from the loss, she uncovers the secrets related to the tragic events in her childhood. The more she learns, the more she feels betrayed by her closest family and friends.
In Memories in the Smoke, Lisa Burkett’s rich, descriptive writing brings out Keely’s emotions in each chapter. When reading, I felt Keely’s pain as she struggled to make sense of everything that was happening to her and her disillusionment when she learned so much had been hidden from her. The work skillfully explores the complexity of its characters and the circumstances they find themselves in. There is no specific antagonist in the book. Instead, the main characters beautifully illustrate human nature, including the difficult experiences that people go through and the challenging decisions they have to make to protect those that they love. Lisa Burkett’s Memories in the Smoke is an immersive novel that explores themes related to relationships, trauma, loss, depression, and recovery.
